2014 Fiesta Gets An Extra Week, For Religious Reasons

San Antonio likes to party, but residents also observe and respect religious tradition. Because of that, the city council has approved an amendment to next year's Fiesta celebration, which will run from April 10-27, instead of April 19-27.

The party will last a little longer, but the new dates provide a revision to the regular flow of Fiesta events to respect Holy Week. The amendment will allow Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter, which are April 17, 18 and 20, to be observed without the distraction of parties like Fiesta Fiesta, Oyster Bake, and the Taste of New Orleans.

Jim Mery, interim director of downtown operations, assured District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran that tradition will be respected and the Fiesta Commission agreed.

"We worked with them and moved them to the week prior, so that Passion Thursday, there was no significant event on that day, and also on Friday, no significant event," Mery said.

The amendment, approved by the council at its A session, also improves recycling opportunities at Fiesta by requesting a one to one ratio of recycling containers to garbage containers.